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Irish winger in no hurry to leave Russian side

Updated / Tuesday, 22 May 2012 22:50

Aiden McGeady admits he would like to play in the Barclays Premier League one day - but he has no plans to head for England just yet.

The 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international joined up with his Euro 2012-bound team-mates on Sunday having been voted as one of the best 33 players in Russia following his second season at Spartak Moscow.

McGeady has two years of his existing contract remaining, and, while he admits he does not see himself staying beyond the confines of that deal, he is not agitating for a move.

Asked if he thought the chance to play in England would come his way one day, the winger said: "I am not too sure.

"Eventually, if I stay at Spartak for the next two years and my contract runs out, I would think so, but I am not really thinking about that at the minute.

"I have still got two years left on my contract. Of course, I still have ambitions to play in England or wherever. I wouldn't want to stay there past my contract."

"I am not thinking about leaving or thinking about upping sticks and getting myself to England or wherever.

"I am quite happy where I am - that's all there is to it.

"I am obviously settled there. I had a few issues a couple of months back, but we had a great end to the season, so I am happy there just now.

Speculation mounted over McGeady's future after a temporary loss of form earlier in the season which saw him fall out of favour at Spartak.

Former Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, now at Sunderland, among others has been linked with a move for him, but the midfielder remains relaxed about the situation.

"Until Spartak say to me I am up for sale and a team comes in and puts in a concrete bid for me, there's nothing really to think about.

"Of course, when you get linked with teams, it can be flattering and give you a little boost.

"Obviously, everyone gets excited whenever they see their name linked with some teams, but that's all it is, just speculation.

"Every footballer is the same, I suppose."

McGeady's return to form helped to inspire a strong finish by Spartak, who claimed second place behind champions Zenit St Petersburg and a Champions League berth in the process.

The winger said: "Basically, I was out of the team for about three or four games round about the start of March, and then I got back in the team and there were no issues with me and the management.

"I ended up playing probably some of the best stuff that I have played at Spartak since I have been there and ended up helping the team to finish in second place ahead of the likes of CSKA [Moscow] and Dinamo Moscow as well, and we got the second Champions League place.

"Everyone was delighted at the end of the season, so there were no problems there at all."

McGeady, of course, enjoyed a trophy-laden spell with Celtic and before heading for eastern Europe, but the one gap in his curriculum vitae is a trip to the finals of a major international competition.

That will be addressed this summer as the Republic head for Poland and Ukraine with high hopes of upsetting the odds once again.

McGeady said: "When you are a young boy growing up, you want to play at a major finals, a World Cup a European Championships, and to almost be there, it's a fantastic feeling.

"To be part of the team that qualified and to hopefully be in any team that's going to be playing is something I am really looking forward to.

"We have to have the belief. We don't want to be going there just to make up the numbers.

"It's an absolutely colossal task to qualify, but it's not without our means, I don't think.

"We definitely have the squad and the players that could come second [in the group].

"I am not going to say we are going to finish first and absolutely wipe the floor with every team, but anything can happen in football.

"We are going there and we are going to give ourselves every chance we can to qualify."

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